Toilet-valve-actuating device



Jan. 25,1927. 1,615,523'v T. SHIMO b TOI/,amv VALVE AGTUATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1925 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNlTEDf STATES TAMORI SHMO, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TOILET-VALVE-ACTUATING DEVICE.

Application filed December This invention relates to an improved mechanism tor actuating a toilet valve for control ot' the flushing apparatus, and has tor its object to provide elements adapted 'to be actuated by the toot ot the operator, whereby the liushing valve will be opened, the arrangement serving to render the flushing ot the toilet more convenient and more ,sanitary than with the ordinary flushing apparatus.

To accomplish these objects, I provide a toot pedal adapted to be depressed by the operator, and cable elements connecting the device with the flushing valve elements which control the discharge from the {lushing tank, my improved actuating mechanism heilig adaptedto be secured to the floor adjacent to the toilet and in a position for its convenient operation by the person using the toilet.

Vihile the drawings exhibit an embodiment o'l the invention I have found to be desirable in actual use, I desire it understood that I reserve the privilege ot resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being delined and `limited only by the scope ot' the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation ot a valve actuating device embodying my invention. Fig, 2 is a plan view of the base portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ol the rotor member ot' the actuating` device. Fig. l is a sectional view of the plunger member showing the grooves in the sides thereot. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view ot the housing for the operating cable. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the j ilunger-retrzuizting sjiring. liig. 7 is a perspective view ot the housing member. Fig. 8 is a front view olE a toilet and flushing bowl, showing my improved device applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings, the valve actuating' device consists ot a base member 1l, and housing 1'2, adapted to be secured tok the 'Hoor adjacent to a toilet bowl 13, the base having cars 141-, and the housing having ears 15, both provided with holes 16 to receive screws 17, for attachment to the floor. A rotor 18 is mounted within the housing` and has a grooved periphery 19 to receive cable 20. Rotor 18 has an integral axial hub portion 21` having a spirally grooved bore 22, adapted to receive the correspondingly formed extremity 23, of plunger 24. The plunger extends through aperture 25 in the housing.

2, 1925. Serial No. 72,844.

The rim oit the aperture has projections 26, engaging with grooves 27 in the plunger. This arrangement prevents rotation of the plunger. The rotor has a projecting portion 28, journalled in the base. The plunger has a hollow bore 29, in which is mounted the retracting spring 30, having its lower end bearing upon a disk 31 in the base. The plunger is limited in its upward movement by the housing, and in its downward movement by the disk 31. An operating cable 2O is fixed to the rotor and extends through aperture 32 to operate the flushing tank valve (not shown). A roller 33 is mounted within the housing and adjacent to aperture 32, and serves to guide the cable through the aperture. f

It is to be understood that the operating cable 20 may be passed over suitable pulleys to connect with the lever which operates the flushing tank valve, and that the location and number ot' these pulleys may be varied in accordance with the location ot the flushing tank and the location of the valve lever on the flushing tank. In Fig, 8,

I have shown a flushing tank 34, having a valve lever thereon for operating the iushing tank valve. In the particular example shown, I provide a bracket 36 having thereon the pulleys 37, 33, 39, and another pulley (not shown) at the rear of pulley 39. The cable 20 passes over said pulleys and then through the cable housing 40, thence under pulley 41, Vand thence over a horizontally disposed pulley (not shown), and thence to the housing member 12. A. means for adjustment ol the cable provided in the turn-buckle 42, whereby suitable tension is maintained ,tor the operation ot' the device.

In use, the operator will press down upon the plunger which is free to move downwardly but is prevented from rotating by the projections on the housing. i movement `ot the plunger, through the spirally threaded extremity 23, actuates the rotor through a third of a revolution, serving to wind the cable 2O on the rotor, and thus turning the lever 35., ot the flushingvalve. lll/hen the operator releases the plunger 24,' the spring 30, retracts the plunger to normal position, allowing the valve lever to return to normal position.

`From the foregoing description and drawings, it may be seen that I have provided a simple, ellieient, and sanitary operating device for actuating the valve of a flushing The downward lOl) tank and toilet, the essence oi my invention residing in a rotor, a housing for the rotor,

an operating cable adapted to wind upon the rotor, and a foot-actuated plunger arranged to turn the rotor when depressed.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. In an actuating apparatus for atlushing tank valve having an external lever, al housing adapted to be secured to the floor, av rotor member working within the housing, a hub on the rotor member having an internally threaded bore, a plunger mounted in the housing and having a threaded portion in engagement with said internally threaded bore, and having a grooved portion extending from the housing; projections on the housing engaging with the grooves in the plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger, said plunger being adapted to be depressed by the foot, a spring to retract the plunger to normal position, interposed between the base of the housing and the plunger, and a cable having one extremity iixed to the rotor and the opposite extremity fixed to the flushing tank valve lever.

2. ln an actuating device for a flushing tank valve having an external lever, a housing and a base member therefor adapted 'to be secured to the floor, a rotor member working within the housing and adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane, said housing having a cable aperture, a plunger mounted in the housing and having a grooved portion extending from the housing, projections on the housing in engagement With the grooves ot' the plunger, a hub on the rotor having an internally and spirally threaded bore, a correspondingly7 formed portion on the plunger in engagement with the hub and serving to rotate the same when depressed, a tubular bore in the plunger, a spring mounted in the tubulaibore of the plunger andJ having its lower extremity bearing upon the base, a roller mounted within the housing and adjacent to the cable aperture, and a cable having one extremity fixed to the rotor and its opposite extremity fixed to the tlushing valve lever.

3. In an actuating device for a flushing tank valve having' an external lever, .a housing adapted to be fixed to the iioor, a rotor working within the housing andA having a grooved periphery, a hollow and spirally grooved hub integral with the rotor, al correspondingly threaded plunger mounted in the housingand engaging with the hub, said plunger serving to actuate the rotor when depressed, a spring to retract the plunger, means tor preventing rotation ot the plunger during its reciprocatory movements, and a cable fixed to the rotor and extending from the housing to the flushing tank valve lever and having: its opposite extremity connected to said lever.

4. ln an actuating device for a flushing tank valve having an external lever, a housing adapted to be fixed to the floor, a rotor working within the housing, a plunger extending from the housing and adapted 'io be depressed by the toot, a hub on the rotor having a spirally grooved bore, a correspondingly threadedextremily on. the piling-- er in engagement with the hub and serving to rotate the rotor when the plunger is dopressed, retracting means tor the piui'igei,

means for preventing rotation oi the plm er during its reciprocating nu temente, a cable having one extreniity the/.l to 'the periphery of the rotor, and'having` its opposite extremity lixed to the tlushingtank valve lever, and means for tensioning 'the cable.

5. Inan actuating device for a `liushil'ig tank valve having an external lever for opY` erating said valve, a housing adapted to be secured to the floor, a base 'for the housing, a. disk mounted on the base, said housing having an aperture at the top thereof, a plunger extending through the aperture at the top ot'the housing, said housing having` a cable aperture adjacent to the base, a rotor journalled in the base and working in the housing, a hub integral with the rotor having a hollow and spirally grooved bore, a correspondingly formed extremity on the plunger engaging with the spirally grooved hub and actuating the rotor when depressed, a grooved periphery on the rotor, a retracting spring interposed between the plunger and said disk in the base, projections on the housing engaging with longitudinal grooves on the plunger and serving to prevent rotation o" the plunger during` its ciprocatory movements, a cable having one extremity fixed to the periphery ol' the rotor and its opposite extremity ixed to the 'flushing valve lever, a housing tor the cable, a bracket above the cable housing, and pulleysI on the bracket and on the base ot the cable housing serving to guide the cable between the rotor and valve lever, and tensioning' means interposed in said cable. Y

in testimony whereof, l hereunto afIix my signature.

TAMORI SHIMO.

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